Editor's Note: This story has been updated from a previous version posted Oct. 14 with more details since made available. Former Premier Jim Prentice, 60, was killed Oct.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated from a previous version posted Oct. 14 with more details since made available.
Former Premier Jim Prentice, 60, was killed Oct. 13 along with three other people when the small plane he was in crashed near Lake Country in British Columbia.
B.C. RCMP has confirmed the crash occurred at approximately 10 p.m. Kelowna RCMP and Lake Country RCMP detachments were notified of the crash at 10:07 p.m. local time after Surrey Air Traffic Control Centre reported they had lost contact with the plane shortly after it had taken off from Kelowna International Airport.
Also killed in the crash were pilot Jim Kruk, a former RCMP member and resident of Airdrie, Calgary businessman Sheldon Reid and Calgary optometrist Dr. Ken Gellatly.
Gellatly was father-in-law to one of Prentice's daughters. The family called the loss of two family members in the crash, “ unbelievably painful,” in a statement issued Oct. 14.
According to RCMP, the Cessna Citation twin-engine jet was destined for Springbank Airport.
“ Several resources were immediately dispatched to the jet's last known location,” Corporal Dan Moskaluk, spokesperson for the RCMP in Southeast District said in a release issued Oct. 14. “ RCMP investigators located the crash site approximately 4 km into a heavily wooded area north of Beaver Lake Road east of Lake Country.”
The Transportation Board of Canada (TSB) sent five investigators to the scene, 11 kilometers north of Kelowna International Airport, and is currently conducting a field investigation. A cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder were not required equipment on the 42-year-old aircraft. According to information released by the TSB, no emergency or distress call was made from the aircraft prior to it rapidly descending nose-first into the ground.
Mayor Peter Brown, who ran for MLA in 2015, said Prentice will be missed.
“ He was always accessible, very honest, very direct. You knew where you stood,” Brown said. “ He was somebody I really admired. I ran for the position of MLA because of him.
“ He understood Alberta. He understood what people wanted. He really wanted to do what was best for everyone. I think that's probably what I'm going to miss the most.”
Premier Rachel Notley – who lost her own father, Grant Notley, in a plane crash in October 1984 – issued a statement Oct. 14.
“ There are no words adequate for moments like this, as my family knows very well.
“ But there are words to remember Premier Prentice's contributions to Alberta. He served our province in so many roles for so many years. He deeply loved Alberta. He worked tirelessly for all of us, in the true spirit of one who is committed to public service. I benefited from his advice, and the Government of Alberta is continuing to pursue many of his initiatives. All Albertans are the better for this.”
Norjet Inc., which owned the aircraft, issued a statement Oct. 15 stating it would co-operate fully with the TSB.
“ Norjet is committed to releasing more information once we have it ourselves. Until that time, we join with Canadians in expressing our heartbreak over the loss of four irreplaceable and cherished individuals. Our deepest condolences go out to their families and our thoughts are with them at this time,” the statement read.
Prentice served as Alberta premier from September 2014 until his Progressive Conservative party was defeated in a landslide by the Alberta NDP in the May 2015 provincial election. He immediately stepped down as premier and as Member of Parliament (MP) for Calgary-Foothills.
Prentice previously served in federal politics as MP for Calgary Centre-North from 2004 to 2010 and also as industry minister, environment minister and minister of Indian affairs and northern development in former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet.
As a lawyer, Prentice began working as an energy adviser with private equity firm Warburg Pincus in June. He leaves behind his wife Karen, three daughters and two grandchildren.
A public memorial service for Prentice will be held Oct. 28 at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary beginning at 11 a.m.
